Global: Tour Operators Talk Trends for 2025

VIETNAMTour Operators Talk Trends for 2025
We reached out to tour operator executives to get the pulse of what’s resonating with travelers for 2025. Avanti DestinationsPaul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, tells Recommend that when it comes to destinations, the big trend the custom FIT tour operator is seeing is non-European destinations, which, he says, “are already nearly double what they were in 2024. “Asia is definitely the hottest of these. We already have more than 40 percent higher earlier bookings for 2025 than for 2024. Our best-selling destinations are Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines.” And in Central and South America, Barry says that this past year’s bookings were “overall 30 percent higher than 2023…with the highest growth rates in Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru and Colombia. Clients—and advisors—are interested in finding alternatives to the most heavily touristed places.” He adds, “Overtourism and a desire for privacy are two trends I believe are driving the growth in non-European destinations. Privacy is the new luxury…with an emphasis on private experiences with top-notch guides and local people who can give your clients an in-depth understanding of the culture, cuisine and history of each destination, rather than a standard, superficial tour of the main sights.” In fact, says Barry, “Gastronomic and culinary tours and experiences continue to be very strong sellers for us.”Collette“What we continue to see is the trend towards longer-duration ‘bucket list’ trips,” says Collette’s Chief Revenue Officer, Jeff Roy. “The safari trips to East and South Africa are doing incredibly well, trending up for 2025. We’re seeing very strong numbers for Vietnam and Thailand…and Morocco is another destination experiencing record growth for 2025. These products all range from 15 days to 19 days in length and come at an above-average price point. “The macro trend is clear, all of these products belong to our Small Group Explorations product line, which continues to become more and more popular with travelers each year. People really want to experience these destinations in a more intimate way, that goes deeper into the region with enough time to truly explore and become immersed in the culture of the destination,” he notes. Globus family of brandsSteve Born, CMO for the Globus family of brands, agrees with Roy, noting that the operator is “seeing a lot of interest in our new Globus Small Group Discovery tours. The sales on these 27 tours are outpacing all other styles, as travelers and their advisors are looking for more intimate experiences.” Like Avanti’s Barry, Born, too, says clients are looking to discover “lesser-known places,” pointing to Globus and Cosmos Undiscovered itineraries—tours designed to go deeper into the destination, beyond the major cities.” Additionally, he shares that a “new wave of touring customers are coming, looking for a combination of tried-and-true support with more freedom to choose how they spend their time. Globus scratches that itch through our line of Choice tours, giving our guests the ability to choose their excursions, as well as including a choice of sightseeing options in a selection of Globus Classic tours.”COSTA RICAGoway TravelTraveling to secondary destinations is also moving the needle at Goway Travel, where Mitchell Fawcett, VP of Marketing, says that this is “driven by a desire for more adventurous experiences and a strategic approach to avoid overcrowded hotspots. “While Costa Rica remains a top choice, destinations like Panama and Colombia are seeing increased demand. Similarly, in Asia, travelers are gravitating toward Vietnam and the Philippines, destinations that are gaining popularity alongside long-time favorites like Thailand and Japan.” In fact, notes Fawcett, “Central and South America are in such high demand for us that we created the new role of VP, The Americas.”In addition to destination trends, wellness travel is poised for significant growth in 2025. Goway has seen a steady demand for wellness products, and the company is preparing to launch an expanded wellness travel line. “These trips will be unique and immersive, connecting travelers with wellness experiences beyond resort retreats and spas,” adds Fawcett. SKY VACATIONSSky Vacations“As the Sky Vacations team looks ahead to 2025, we can identify definite travel trends that reflect evolving traveler preferences...specifically focusing on what matters most to a traveler,” says Richard Krieger, Director of Sky Vacations. Among those trends are global vegan journeys. Says Krieger, “A major trend is the growing demand for vegan travel experiences. As travelers become more conscious of their health, environment and sustainability, vegan tourism is no longer a niche market. Sky Vacations is at the forefront of this trend with programs like Vegan Journeys to Korea, India, Japan, which combine cultural exploration with plant-based culinary experiences.” Inclusivity, too, is top of mind, with Krieger noting that “more families from the queer community are seeking experiences that are insightful and rewarding for the entire family. Out World Journeys (a Sky Vacations brand) is committed to bringing high-quality product to the community including family journeys to France, the UK, Africa and South America.”TTC Tour Brands“One of the trends that we know is not going away any time soon is women-only travel,” says interim CEO of TTC Tour Brands Melissa DaSilva. “Women seek experiences where they can feel comfortable with like-minded travelers, especially those interested in traveling solo. Women-only experiences provide an extra level of comfort where they can explore the world with fellow women travelers and get out of their comfort zones. In 2025, Insight Vacations is meeting the demand for these female-only experiences with new women-only tours to destinations where travelers may feel more comfortable traveling with a group such as Peru and Egypt.” She also points to “NocTourism as another emerging trend for 2025.” This is where travelers seek experiences involving celestial and once-in-a-lifetime cosmic events. She says, “2025 is predicted to be one of the best in recent years to see the Northern Lights and Trafalgar recently announced a new Alaska Northern Lights trip for 2025 travel.” Off-the-beaten-path destinations are also trending with TTC Tour Brands clients, with DaSilva telling Recommend, “For 2025 we’re seeing a shift to detour destinations where travelers will visit a popular destination and then expand their adventure and detour for a day or two to an off-the-beaten-path attraction. Across our brands, we offer the opportunity for travelers to see those must-visit places and hidden gems from Machu Picchu and Puerto Maldonado on Contiki’s Peruvian Highlights or Dublin and Dingle on Brendan Vacations’ Ireland’s Hidden Gems.”
Dividing Rule
Travel Advisor Intel on Adventures by DisneyWe spoke with Travel Advisor Lisa Federico, President + Owner of Academy Travel, which specializes in booking Adventures by Disney (ABD) vacations for couples, families and groups, to get her insights on this family-friendly tour operator’s offerings. Federico reminds advisors that booking with ABD means that their clients will get “to travel to destinations they could never have dreamed of. I have experienced three ABD trips myself—Washington, Nashville and Italy—and next year I have planned a river cruise, and everything is taken care of, from arranging pre and post nights to flights and transfers. [During the tour] you’re accompanied by two Disney-trained adventure guides, both of whom stay with you for the entire time, offering tips and advice on places to dine, shop or visit in your free time.” She says your clients will thank you for recommending an ABD trip, because “the memories made on these are priceless.” Federico's top recommendations are the 7-day Costa Rica itinerary, which includes white-water rafting and ziplining and is ideal for today’s active and wellness-minded travelers of all ages, and the 8-day Italy itineraries. She says the Italy trips “remain the most popular.”

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